City Beat: Council considers development proposals, Civil War marker

Increased demand has led developer Trent Cowherd to propose construction of a second self-service storage facility. City Council considered a bill Nov. 4 that would allow Cowherd to development Chesterfield Storage on the north side of the 2300 block of West Kingsley Street.

Cowherd, who owns A&B Self Storage at 3040 W. Republic Road, said he has turned people away because the units are full.

"Turning customers away is not good business practice, so I decided to build another one," he said.

Cowherd purchased eight acres of land northwest of the Kansas Expressway and Republic Road intersection for $1.2 million. His total investment for the proposed facility, which would have 780 storage units, is $4 million.

The property, in a growing commercial area of southwest Springfield, abuts James River Freeway to the north, and must be constructed with gabled roofing on that side. Cowherd also agreed to use gabled roofing on the facility's west side which is adjacent to Chesterfield Family Center after questioning by councilman John Wylie. Wylie was concerned about its appearance because it is next to the city center.

Council will vote on the bill Nov. 18.

Multifamily development

Council heard a proposal from another developer, Bill Mace, for six apartments between two triplexes on the east side of the 800 block of South Scenic Avenue. Mace is requesting a rezoning of the one-third acre from a highway commercial district to a low-density multifamily district.

Zoning Administrator Andy Furedy said such plans coincide with other residential development along Scenic.

One member of the public, Sam Lines, spoke in opposition, citing increased traffic and decreased property values. Lyons, whose family has owned property there for years, said, "We would like to keep it single family as it is."

However, Councilman Ralph Manley reminded Lyons that rezoning from highway commercial to low density multifamily might be in his favor. "I think you would be in better shape if it were rezoned as requested," he said.

Mace said the apartments would rent for about $500.

Civil War marker

The city is considering installing a large Battle of Springfield Civil War historical marker on Park Central Square. Council will vote Nov. 18 on the Missouri Department of Natural Resources-funded marker, which would be a pathfinder for 12 other smaller markers around center city. Springfield City Council approved the previously installed markers in the mid-1990s.

Gillioz Theatre

Springfieldian Weldon King would like to donate a historic pipe organ to the Gillioz Theatre, but the theater needs the city's help.

Council granted assistance financial and physical to move the organ, which is similar to the original Gillioz pipe organ, into storage for future use in the theatre.

City Manager Tom Finnie said the funding would cover relocation and installation costs up to $2,500.

Cable franchise

The deadline for Mediacom Communi-cations Corp. has been pushed back yet another month. Council unanimously approved extending the eighth-anniversary deadline by six weeks to Dec. 18.

This action is the second extension. The city's review, which surrounds unpaid franchise fees of $10,000 monthly and customer service issues, was originally set for Oct. 6.